Wright State University
2-5
Canisius
3-3
Women Defeat Canisius
12/1/2007 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Wright State women's basketball team shot just 29 percent from the field for the game, but it was good enough for a win as the Raiders dominated the second half in defeating the Canisius Golden Griffins 57-40 at the Nutter Center Saturday afternoon.
Both teams struggled offensively in the first half as the game was scoreless until J.J. Williams hit two foul shots at the 15:41 mark to give Canisius a 2-0 lead. WSU finally broke through with a Sierra Crayton layup a minute later, but the Raiders later trailed 15-8 with 8:51 remaining in the period following back-to-back Laura Buetow baskets.
Three Whitney Lewis three along with a Charne Dixon jumper capped off a 10-0 Raider run to give Wright State the lead back at 18-15.
A Brianna Lucas three, though, tied the game again and despite Wright State going back up on a pair of Crayton free throws, Canisius scored the final three points to even the score at 20 at halftime.
WSU went in front to stay by scoring the first seven points of the third quarter, including a Whitney Lewis, to go up 44-25.
Wright State maintained the advantage the rest of the way and led by as much as 24 on a Ward jumper with 3:27 left.
While WSU shot just 29 percent overall, Canisius struggled even more, hitting for only 21 percent, including an 18 percent second half that saw the Golden Griffins make just five of 28 shots. The Raiders held a 51-44 rebounding advantage, including a 17-16 in offensive rebounds, and had the edge in points in the paint (16-10), points off of turnovers (18-11) and second-chance points (10-7).
The 40 points are the lowest total given up by the Raiders since WSU closed out last year's regular season with a 47-40 decision over Youngstown State on March 3.
Lewis led the way for the Raiders with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds while Ward also had 15 points, all coming in the second half, along with seven steals and six rebounds. Crayton had a near double-double of nine points and nine boards, Tatianna Hall six points and six rebounds in her first collegiate start, and Parrish six points off the bench.
No Canisius player scored in double figures as Amanda Cavo led the Golden Griffins (3-3) with nine while Williams had eight.
Wright State, now 2-5 on the season, hits the road for three straight games, starting on Wednesday, December 6, with a 7:00 game at Wake Forest.
